Astronomers have just discovered the first known "Einstein zigzag."

Due to a rare, lucky cosmic alignment, the combined gravity of two galaxies bent light like spaghetti & split a distant quasar into six different images.

This six-part image could allow a very accurate measure of the expansion of the universe.

https://www.science.org/content/article/first-known-double-gravitational-lens-could-shed-light-universe-s-expansion #science #space #astronomy #physics

Timeline cleanse

Westerlund 2 is a giant cluster of about 3,000 stars located 20,000 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Carina. These stars sculpt the surrounding nebula, carving out a cavity lined with a fantasy landscape of pillars, ridges, and valleys. The pillars, composed of dense gas and dust, are incubators for new stars. They are a few light-years tall and point to the central star cluster.

1/3
📷 https://hubblesite.org/contents/media/images/2015/12/3519-Image.html?news=true

#space #astronomy #Hubble #TimelineCleanse

Does anyone have any recommendations for PeerTube channels focused on #Dinosaurs / #Paleontology, #Insects / #Animals / #TheNaturalWorld, #Space / #Astronomy, other interesting topics #History / #Disaster / #Inventions?

If you are thinking of or have made such a channel I'm happy to share it here.

I watch a few on #YouTube but would like to use #PeerTube more. Channels like: #YDAW, #FascinatingHorror, #KurgesagtInANutshell.

Andromeda–Milky Way collision or Milkomeda or Milkdromeda or our suggestion, Andromeda Way (a street we would like to live on...)

📷 :https://images.nasa.gov/details/GSFC_20171208_Archive_e001738

#Astronomy #Space #Science #Astrophotography #AstroDon #MilkyWay #Andromeda #Galaxy #NASA

First post over here after leaving the bin fire that was twitter. Now need to try and find all the Astrophotographers over here to connect with, all recommendations greatfully received. #Astrophotography #Space #Nebula #Astronomy

Aww I love this #MythologyMonday theme (esp. since I was just with *both* my #Sisters IRL last weekend!)

Shout out to the 7 Sisters known as the #Pleaides who live now as stars in the night sky b/c #Orion is the WORRRSST!

We did an episode about the #astronomy & #myth of this #asterism earlier this season

#Myth #Mythology #GreekMythology #Space #podcast #NationalSisterDay #Sister

🎨 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleiades_(Greek_mythology)#/media/File:The_Pleiades_(Elihu_Vedder).jpg

A two frame composite of the Milky Way and my kitty "Ding" waiting for me to join him in the freezing cold tent. Ding loved to go camping with me. I sure do miss Schrödinger, the Kampin' Kitty 💔. (Photo: Massacre Rim, International Dark Sky Sanctuary, Nevada (5/23/2020).)

#AstroPhotography #MilkyWay #Astronomy #Camping #CatsOfMastodon #Photography #LinuxPhotography #Darktable #GIMP

Yesterday was Night of the Museums in Hungary. All museums open all night with many different events and programs. It's one of my favorite things.

I was at the ELTE Museum of Natural Sciences first, in the Mineral Collection. I told folktales and legends related to Corundum (mineral of the year 2024). First to kids, then adults.

Then I was at the Polaris Observatory telling legends about the Northern Lights.

Full house each time, and great fun 😊 ❤️
#storytelling #folktales #museums #astronomy

The idea that planets were born from giant clouds in space is called the "nebular hypothesis."

It originated with Swedish philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg, way back in 1734. But only now can astronomers directly observe that, yes, planets really do form in clouds around newborn stars. Science takes time.

https://blogs.futura-sciences.com/e-luminet/2016/09/28/cosmogenesis-8-the-nebular-hypothesis/ #science #space #astronomy #nature

We can now DIRECTLY OBSERVE planets being born!

Each of the arrow-marked blobs is a likely planet-in-the-making around the infant star FU Orionis (great name), located 1,350 light years away in the constellation Orion.

https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.05797 #space #science #astronomy #astrodon

#TIL that the Pleiades were sometimes known as The Seven Lesbians in ancient Greek times.

As in, girls from Lesbos, but still 😄 I feel like this should be repurposed

#astronomy #history #lgbtq

I am musing about my theme for this year's A to Z Blogging Challenge.

I have been consistently failing a Constellation Myths plan year after year... might be time to actually do it this time. I want to do constellation myths outside of the ones everyone knows... ✨

#blogging #astronomy #constellation #stars #folklore #mythology

In 2017, I crocheted myself a solar system costume. The headpiece is mounted on a bike helmet for stability (I got that tip from some folks who build showgirl costumes). The tunic is made from fine black linen yarn, very matte, very tedious, much like I imagine space is most of the time. The planets are made using an online sphere pattern generator, so that I could vary the sizes in a predictable way; they are strung on a fishing line with beads, and suspended from an elastic collar, also crocheted. They are also kept in place with a beaded "asteroid belt", located between Mars and Jupiter, of course. Photographed at Manhattan Beach Pier. All second-hand yarns, though I had to ask around for enough yellow to make the sun so large. #solarsystem #crochet #costume #planets #sun #astronomy #planetary #yesplutotoo

Jupiter, high on caffeine, sleep deprived, and doing its best to take care of 95 moons. 😵‍💫

#Jupiter #Astronomy #Moon #Moons #Caffeine #Sleep #Insomnia #NASA #Picture #Photo

(Originally by https://twitter.com/SpaceRachey)

Star gazing Mastodonians. What are these two tiny dots? It's only 5pm.

#astronomy

Topic 8: The solar system

Book:
How ​I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming, by Mike Brown

If you are in my generation, Pluto losing its spot as a planet is likely a sore topic for you. I was therefore delighted to find this book, and learn more about just what the heck happened and why. By the end of the book I was not only stunned by the amount of work that went into the process, but I also learned to understand why Pluto is not a planet anymore.

#astronomy #planets #science #space #Pluto

Asteroid city - Asteroids named after Queensland astronomers in recognition of contribution to space research https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-25/asteroids-named-after-usq-queensland-astronomers/102642964 via @ABCaustralia #queenslanders #astronomy